Tensioning device for tympana.



'(3. B. WA'NAMAKER. TENSIONING DEVICE FOR TYMPANA.

APPLICATIUN FILED DEC. 9,` 19H5.

Patented Jue 18, 1918 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. WANAMAKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO LEEDY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

TENSIONING DEVICE FOR TYMPANA.

Application led December 9, 1916.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. WANA- MAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented anew and useful Tensioning Device for Tympana, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved tensioning device for tympana, wherein the weight of the parts is reduced to a considerable degree below that of standard constructions of the present time, and wherein the parts are so associated as to avoid unsightly extensions.

At the present time, the standard construction of tensioning devices is one in which the threaded portion of the tensioning screw passes through a ball nut, carried in a bracket riveted to the main body of the tympanum, and this construction, in order that the parts have suiiicient strength, has necessarily involved considerable weight which is eliminated by my present construction. The elimination of unnecessary weight in instruments of this character results in a decided improvement in tone quality.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tympanum equipped with my improved tensioning device. Fig. 2 a full sized side elevation of one of the tensioning devices; Fig. 3 a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the main body of the tympanum, 11 the head ring, 12 the head, and 13 the tensioning ring, preferably formed of angle iron. Secured to the ring 13 at various points are clips 14 of sheet metal, each embracing a thimble 15. Each clip 14 may be formed of comparatively light sheet metal and riveted to the ring 13, the strip having a width suicient to lie snugly between the end flanges 16 of thimble 15. Such an arrangement is, for a given strength, considerably lighter than the perforated-lug casting commonly used. The upper end of thimble 15 is provided with a ball-seat 17, adapted to receive the ball segment 18, which is provided with a perforation 19. The upper flat face of the ball segment 18 forms a seat for the lower end of the handle nut 20, which is, externally, of standard form having a vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

serial No. 136,120.

vthreaded portion of the shank extended through, and was exposed beneath, the ball nut.

In my present construction, shank 21 is made hollow, as indicated at 24, and is provided with threads 25, adapted to receive the threaded portion 26 of a screw 27, provided with a ball head 28. The head 28 is supported in a downwardly presented pocket 31, the upper portion of which is semispheroidal and perforated at 32 to permit the passage of screw 27. The pocket 31 is preferably formed by proper sha ing of sheet metal, which is also bent to orm an integral bracket having a laterall projecting web, 33, composed of two thicknesses of the material, and oppositely extending foot pieces 34 which may be attached t0 main body 10 by rivets 35. By using sheet metal for this pocket bracket, a very substantial piece, capable of withstanding the great pressures to which it is necessarily subjected, can be produced at a minimum weight. Turning oi head 28 about the axis of screw 27 is prevented by transversely slotting the head, as indicated at 36, and passing a pin 37 therethrough, the said pin lying in a cylindrical pocket 38, formed in the adjacent faces of the web pieces` 33. As will be seen from Figs. 3 and 5, pin 37 is retained in placewhen the bracket is riveted to the main body, and is not exposed at the outer end of the bracket.

The threaded portion is no longer than that which has heretofore been required for the total vert-ical adjustment of ring 11, and the structure as a whole is, therefore, lighter than the preceding structures by the amount of material removed from the interior of shank 21.

Head 28, being integral with screw 27, may, of course, be of considerably less diameter than would -be required by the use of a ball nut through which the threaded portion of the tensioning screw is passed, and, consequently, my device is still further lighter' than a. device of the ball nut type.

lt will also be noted that in all positions of adjustment, the threaded portion of screw 27 is entirely hidden from view and that there is nothing projecting below the bracket or pocket 31. As a consequence, my device is much more sightly and thus unlikely to catch the clothing of persons passing the same, 4than the present standard construction.

l claim as my invention:

l. A tensioning device for tympana, coniprising a supporting thimble carried by the head ring, a hollow threaded hand nut supported upon the tllimble, an upwardly presented threaded shank passed through the thimble and into the nut7 and a support incense carried by the main body of the tympanum and resisting` upward displacement of said shank. p p

2. A tensioning` device ttor tympana, comprising a supporting thimble carried by the head ring, a hollow threaded hand nut sup ported upon the thimble, an upwardly presented threaded shank passed through the thimble and into the nut and provided at its lower end with a ball head, and a support carried by the main body of the tympanum and provided with a ballep'ooket receiving the ball head of the threaded shank and ressting upward displacement of said shank.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, indiana7 this 5th day of December, A. l). one thousand nine hundred and sixteen.

CHARLES B. WANAMAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o' Patents, Washington, ID. C. 

